The DAAD Architecture Scholarships 2027 in Germany provide an opportunity for qualified international architecture graduates to pursue postgraduate study or complementary architectural studies at a German university. The official programme is titled “Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture” and is administered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The programme covers several architecture-related disciplines, including architecture, interior design, monument conservation, urban design and development, landscape architecture and landscape planning. Successful applicants can receive a monthly scholarship of €992, a travel allowance, insurance support and other benefits, depending on their circumstances.
For the 2027/28 intake, the official DAAD scholarship database lists 23 September 2026 as the application deadline, with selection scheduled for January 2027 and funding expected to begin from September 2027.
This guide explains the eligibility requirements, funding, eligible fields, application process, portfolio requirements, deadlines and important steps prospective architecture applicants should follow.
DAAD Architecture Scholarships Facts & Quick Verification Tracker
| Item | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture |
| Provider | German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) |
| Host country | Germany |
| Study level | Postgraduate/Master’s and complementary studies |
| Eligible applicants | International graduates meeting country-specific requirements |
| Eligible fields | Architecture and related disciplines |
| Scholarship value | €992 per month |
| Additional support | Travel allowance, study allowance, insurance and possible additional benefits |
| Master’s funding period | 10–24 months |
| Complementary study | Up to one academic year |
| 2027/28 application deadline | 23 September 2026 |
| Expected selection | January 2027 |
| Expected funding start | From September 2027 |
| Application platform | DAAD Portal |
| Portfolio/work samples | Submitted separately through the DAAD Media Database after formal screening |
The deadline and funding information above is based on the current DAAD programme listing for the 2027/28 architecture scholarship. Applicants should nevertheless verify the programme page before submission because DAAD advises that application deadlines are updated annually.
Scholarship or Fellowship Coverage & Requirements Matrix
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Academic qualification | First university degree in an eligible architecture-related field |
| Degree options | Master’s/postgraduate degree or complementary study |
| Architecture areas | Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation, Urban Design/Development, Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning |
| Study institution | State or state-recognised university in Germany |
| Scholarship duration | 10–24 months for Master’s/postgraduate study |
| Monthly stipend | €992 |
| Travel support | Available upon application |
| Insurance | Health, accident and personal liability insurance support |
| Study allowance | One-off study allowance |
| Language | German or English according to the chosen programme |
| Work samples | Required after the initial formal application screening |
| Residence restriction | Applicants who have lived in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered |
| Degree age | As a rule, the last relevant university degree must not be more than six years old at the application deadline |
These conditions come directly from the current DAAD architecture scholarship announcement.
Official Source & Portal Verification
Applicants should rely primarily on the official DAAD scholarship database rather than third-party scholarship websites.
The official programme page confirms that the scholarship is specifically designed for postgraduate or continuing study in architecture and related fields. It also contains the current application requirements, funding information, documents, work-sample instructions and application procedure.
Official DAAD Architecture Scholarship:
DAAD Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture
DAAD Scholarship Database:
DAAD Scholarship Database
Applicants should use the DAAD portal linked from the official programme announcement when applications are open.
The Step-by-Step Roadmap
Applying for the DAAD Architecture Scholarship involves more than completing an online form. Architecture applicants must also prepare strong academic documentation and architectural work samples.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
Check that your previous university degree falls within one of the eligible architecture-related fields and that your country is included in the programme’s country-specific eligibility list.
Step 2: Identify Suitable German Universities
Research Master’s or postgraduate architecture programmes at state or state-recognised German universities.
Pay close attention to:
- Programme language
- Admission requirements
- Application deadlines
- Entrance examinations
- Portfolio requirements
- Programme structure
- ECTS/credit distribution
- Design and project components
The DAAD warns that receiving a scholarship does not automatically guarantee university admission. The university makes its own admission decision.
Step 3: Check the Design/Project Requirement
This is particularly important for architecture applicants.
For programmes carrying:
- 120 ECTS: at least 45 ECTS should be in Design/Projects
- 90 ECTS: at least 34 ECTS
- 60 ECTS: at least 23 ECTS
Programmes that do not meet the required design/project component cannot be funded through this particular DAAD architecture scholarship.
Step 4: Prepare Your Application Documents
Prepare your CV, motivation letter, transcripts, degree certificate, language certificate and other required documents.
Step 5: Apply Through the DAAD Portal
Register and complete the online application during the application period.
Step 6: Submit Your Architectural Work Samples Separately
Do not simply upload your portfolio to the main DAAD portal.
According to the current instructions, applicants whose applications pass the formal screening stage receive a link to the DAAD Media Database for submission of their work samples.
Step 7: Apply to the German University
The DAAD scholarship application and university admission process are related but separate. You are responsible for meeting the university’s admission deadline.
Step 8: Monitor Your Application
Check your DAAD account and email regularly for requests, notifications and instructions concerning the work samples or selection process.
Supporting Academic Collaboration for DAAD Architecture Scholarships
Architecture is increasingly interdisciplinary. Students work across urban planning, environmental design, heritage preservation, landscape planning, construction and social development.
The DAAD architecture programme explicitly promotes the exchange of experience and networking among colleagues. This means applicants should think beyond simply obtaining a Master’s degree and consider how their proposed studies can contribute to their academic and professional development.
A strong application should therefore explain why studying architecture in Germany is important to the applicant’s long-term academic and professional direction.
Duration and Funding Opportunities for DAAD Architecture Scholarships
For a Master’s or postgraduate degree, the DAAD Architecture Scholarship generally supports 10 to 24 months, depending on the length of the chosen programme.
The scholarship usually starts from 1 October of the year following application, although an earlier German language course may be funded where applicable.
The current scholarship package includes:
- €992 monthly payment
- Travel allowance upon application
- One-off study allowance
- Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance
- Possible monthly rent subsidy
- Possible family allowance for accompanying family members
- Possible support for additional costs associated with disability or chronic illness
- Green Mobility Top Up or carbon-offset reimbursement under the applicable conditions
- Possible German-language preparation and language-course support
DAAD specifically states that tuition fees are not covered by this scholarship.
Focus on Development Through Scientific Research
Although this scholarship is primarily aimed at postgraduate architectural education rather than a conventional research fellowship, applicants can still demonstrate how their proposed study addresses important architectural and built-environment challenges.
Examples include:
- Sustainable architecture
- Climate-responsive buildings
- Urban development
- Affordable housing
- Heritage conservation
- Landscape planning
- Adaptive reuse
- Sustainable construction
- Community-oriented design
- Resilient cities
Applicants interested specifically in architectural history or scientific research should also investigate other DAAD programmes because the architecture scholarship announcement indicates that other DAAD funding routes may be more appropriate for some research-focused projects.
Growing Importance of International Research Partnerships
International education allows architecture students to encounter different approaches to urban development, building technology, environmental sustainability and heritage conservation.
Germany’s universities provide access to European academic networks and multidisciplinary learning environments. For applicants from developing countries, the experience can also help build professional connections and transfer knowledge that may later be applied to housing, infrastructure, planning and sustainable development at home.
Fellowship Mission
The DAAD Architecture Scholarship is not simply financial assistance. Its broader objective is to enable qualified international graduates to continue their education in Germany while encouraging academic exchange and professional networking.
The programme therefore looks at both the applicant’s academic preparation and the quality of the proposed study project. Architectural maturity and the quality of submitted work samples are particularly important in the selection process.
Research Expectations and Academic Responsibilities of Applicants
Applicants should approach the scholarship as an academic opportunity rather than simply a source of funding.
Successful scholars are expected to:
- Remain academically engaged
- Meet the requirements of their chosen university
- Make satisfactory academic progress
- Complete the approved study programme
- Participate responsibly in the academic environment
- Follow DAAD and university regulations
- Develop the skills and knowledge connected to their proposed study objectives
For Master’s applicants, continued funding after the first year is subject to an assessment of academic progress.
Scholarship or Fellowship Overview and Academic Purpose
The DAAD Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture are designed for international graduates seeking postgraduate education in Germany.
The programme supports either:
- A Master’s/postgraduate programme leading to a final qualification; or
- A complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification.
The complementary option is not intended for undergraduate study.
What This Fellowship Offers (The Advantage)
The main advantage is that successful applicants receive financial support while gaining access to postgraduate architectural education in Germany.
Other advantages include:
- International academic exposure
- Access to German higher education
- Professional and academic networking
- Financial support during the study period
- Travel assistance
- Insurance support
- Possible housing and family-related support
- German-language preparation where applicable
- Opportunity to strengthen an international architecture portfolio
Features of the Fellowship/Scholarship
The major features include:
- International opportunity: The scholarship is designed for eligible applicants from specified countries.
- Architecture-specific funding: Unlike general DAAD scholarships, this programme is specifically structured around architecture and related disciplines.
- Portfolio-based assessment: Architectural work samples play an important role in the selection process.
- Flexible postgraduate duration: Master’s/postgraduate funding can last between 10 and 24 months.
- Monthly financial support: Scholars receive €992 per month.
- Multiple architectural specialisations: Applicants can identify fields such as interior architecture, historic preservation, urban design/city planning, landscape architecture or landscape planning.
Eligible Academic Fields / Courses
The following fields are explicitly identified by DAAD as eligible:
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Monument Conservation
- Building in Existing Contexts/Reconditioning of Old Buildings
- Urban Design
- Urban Development
- Landscape Architecture
- Landscape Planning
The programme also supports projects involving the preservation of historical monuments and construction in existing buildings/restoration of old buildings.
Applicants interested in History of Architecture or a primarily scientific research project should investigate other relevant DAAD funding programmes because the architecture scholarship may not be the appropriate route.
Who can Apply
The programme is intended for international graduates who have obtained a first university degree in one of the eligible architecture-related fields.
You must have obtained the qualifying degree no later than the beginning of the scholarship-supported study programme.
Importantly, eligibility is also country-specific. DAAD’s scholarship database requires applicants to select their country of residence/application and status to determine which programmes are available to them.
Eligibility Requirements to Apply for DAAD Architecture Scholarships
Applicants should generally meet the following requirements:
1. Relevant Academic Degree
You must hold a first university degree in architecture or one of the related disciplines listed by DAAD.
2. Degree Age
As a general rule, your last relevant university degree should not have been awarded more than six years before the application deadline.
3. Residence in Germany
Applicants who have been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered for this scholarship.
4. Language Proficiency
Language requirements depend on the programme you choose.
- For English-taught programmes, applicants need to meet the university’s English-language requirements, such as IELTS or TOEFL where applicable.
- For German-taught architecture programmes, DAAD notes that universities generally expect very good German proficiency, often B2 or C1.
- For the scholarship application, applicants are required to provide proof corresponding to at least completed B1 German under the specified conditions.
5. Strong Architectural Work
Work samples are a critical component of the architecture selection process. DAAD’s specialist committee evaluates architectural maturity based partly on academic achievements and work samples.
6. Suitable Study Programme
The selected programme must satisfy the DAAD architecture scholarship’s Design/Projects requirements.
Study Period and funding for DAAD Architecture Scholarships
The scholarship supports Master’s/postgraduate study for 10–24 months, depending on the programme’s standard duration.
Complementary studies that do not lead to a final qualification may be funded for one academic year.
The current monthly scholarship is €992.
However, applicants should not interpret this as a full tuition scholarship. DAAD explicitly states that tuition fees are not covered, so prospective students must check whether their chosen university or programme charges tuition fees and make appropriate financial arrangements.
What Past Winners & Student Forums Say about DAAD Architecture Scholarships
Applicants often turn to student forums and online communities for practical advice about DAAD applications, portfolios, German universities and admission procedures.
However, forum discussions should be treated as personal experiences rather than official scholarship requirements. A successful applicant’s experience from a previous year may not apply to the 2027/28 cycle.
For architecture applicants, the most important lesson from the official selection procedure is that academic performance alone is not enough. DAAD’s specialist architecture committee evaluates the academic qualification and architectural maturity, including the applicant’s work samples, as well as the quality of the study plan and motivation letter.
Therefore, applicants should prioritise the official DAAD announcement and the admission requirements of their selected universities over advice posted on forums.
About the University offering the Scholarship or Fellowship
Is DAAD the University?
No. This is an important distinction.
DAAD is the scholarship provider, not the university where you will study. The programme allows eligible applicants to pursue postgraduate or complementary architectural studies at a state or state-recognised university in Germany.
Applicants are responsible for identifying suitable universities and applying for admission. This means there is no single “DAAD Architecture University.” Instead, you select appropriate German universities and programmes that satisfy both the university’s admission requirements and the DAAD scholarship’s funding conditions.
Before applying, applicants should compare programmes based on:
- Architecture specialisation
- Language of instruction
- Design/project credits
- Admission requirements
- Portfolio requirements
- University application deadline
- Tuition fees, if any
- Programme duration
- Location and living costs
DAAD also warns that receiving a scholarship does not automatically mean that a university will admit the applicant. University admission remains a separate decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are other DAAD Scholarships available?
- DAAD Study Scholarships for STEM Disciplines
- DAAD Third Country Programme Central America
- Host a German Research Intern with DAAD RISE Worldwide
Is the DAAD Architecture Scholarship fully funded?
It provides substantial financial support, including €992 per month, travel assistance, insurance support and other possible benefits. However, DAAD does not cover tuition fees, so it should not automatically be described as a full tuition scholarship.
Can I apply with a Bachelor’s degree?
Yes. Applicants can apply if they have completed a first university degree in one of the eligible architecture-related disciplines by the start of the scholarship-supported programme.
Can I study Interior Design?
Yes. Interior Design is specifically listed among the eligible fields.
Can Urban Planning applicants apply?
Applicants in Urban Design/Urban Development can be eligible under the architecture programme. Landscape Planning is also listed.
Is a portfolio required?
Yes. Architecture applicants must submit work samples after their initial application passes the formal screening stage. DAAD provides instructions for uploading the work samples through its Media Database.
Can I upload my portfolio directly to the DAAD portal?
No. The current instructions specifically state that work samples and/or portfolios should not be uploaded to the DAAD portal. Eligible applicants receive instructions for submitting work samples through the DAAD Media Database.
Does the scholarship guarantee university admission?
No. Scholarship selection and university admission are separate processes. You must obtain admission to one of the universities indicated in your application before the scholarship can be used.
Can I apply if I am already studying in Germany?
Applicants who have been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered. In addition, the programme does not fund a Master’s/postgraduate programme that has already started in Germany.
Can I apply for an English-taught architecture programme?
Yes, provided the programme meets the scholarship requirements and you satisfy the university’s English-language requirements. DAAD gives examples of accepted English-language certificates such as IELTS and TOEFL, while the exact requirement depends on the selected university.
Current Application Deadlines:
For the DAAD Architecture Scholarship 2027/28, the current official scholarship listing gives:
Application deadline: 23 September 2026
Selection: January 2027
Funding start: September 2027
The DAAD application period opens on 1 June and the portal is available during the active application period.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day because the DAAD portal closes at the stated deadline and late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.
Important: University admission deadlines can be earlier than the DAAD scholarship deadline. Applicants should therefore begin the university admission process as early as possible.
Contact Information for Applicants
For technical problems with the DAAD application portal, the current programme announcement provides:
Email: portal@daad.de
Technical portal hotline: +49 (0) 228 882-8888
The DAAD states that the hotline is available on weekdays from 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:00 CET/CEST.
For questions about university admission, applicants should contact the international office or admissions office of the particular German university they wish to attend.
How To Apply
Follow these steps to apply for the DAAD Architecture Scholarship 2027:
Step 1: Research eligible architecture programmes
Identify suitable Master’s or postgraduate programmes at German state or state-recognised universities.
Step 2: Check the programme structure
Make sure the degree meets DAAD’s Design/Projects credit requirements.
Step 3: Check the university admission requirements
Review the university’s academic, language, portfolio and entrance-examination requirements.
Step 4: Prepare your academic documents
Prepare:
- CV
- Motivation letter
- University transcripts
- Degree certificate
- Language certificate
- Preferred Master’s programme information form
- University admission letter, if already available
- Relevant employment or internship evidence
- Required translations
The DAAD architecture announcement provides the current document requirements.
Step 5: Register on the DAAD Portal
Create an account and complete the online application.
Step 6: Select Your Architecture Specialisation
DAAD instructs applicants to identify their specific area of expertise, such as Interior Architecture, Historic Preservation, Urban Design/City Planning, Landscape Architecture or Landscape Planning.
Step 7: Submit the DAAD Application
Upload the required documents in PDF format and submit the application before the deadline.
Step 8: Wait for Work-Sample Instructions
If your application passes the formal check, DAAD will send instructions for submitting your architectural work samples through the Media Database.
Step 9: Upload Your Work Samples
Follow the technical and content requirements supplied by DAAD. The current announcement states that eligible applicants receive the upload link by 23 October at the latest and that work samples must be uploaded by 4 November CET at the latest.
Step 10: Complete University Admission
Remember that the DAAD scholarship does not replace the university admission process. Apply separately to your chosen German universities and meet their individual deadlines.
Step 11: Monitor the Selection Process
Official Application Link
The direct official application route for the DAAD Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture, 2027/28 is:
👉 DAAD Direct Application Portal – Architecture Scholarship 2027/28
DAAD confirms that applications are submitted online through the DAAD Portal, and the 2027/28 application deadline is 23 September 2026.
Official scholarship page:
DAAD Architecture Scholarship 2027/28 – Official Announcement
Important: After registering/logging in, you may need to select your country/status before the relevant application form becomes available. The architecture scholarship application is submitted in two stages: the main application documents first, followed by the required architectural work samples through the DAAD Media Database.
Concluding Remarks
The DAAD Architecture Scholarships 2027 in Germany offer a valuable opportunity for international architecture graduates who want to advance their education in Germany.
The programme is particularly relevant to applicants in Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation, Urban Design/Urban Development, Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning. Successful scholars can receive €992 per month alongside travel, insurance and other possible financial benefits.
For the 2027/28 intake, the key deadline to remember is 23 September 2026. However, applicants should begin preparing well before this date because university admission, language testing and architectural portfolio preparation can take considerable time.
The strongest applicants should therefore focus on three areas: academic preparation, a clear and convincing study plan, and high-quality architectural work samples. DAAD’s architecture selection committee specifically considers academic qualification, architectural maturity, work samples, the proposed study project and the applicant’s motivation.
Most importantly, do not treat the DAAD scholarship as university admission. Research suitable German universities separately, verify their programme requirements, apply for admission on time and ensure that your chosen programme meets the DAAD architecture scholarship’s funding conditions.
One last thing, for the latest requirements, country eligibility and application instructions, always verify the information on the official DAAD programme page before submitting your application.